Author: psmith

So you’re at the dealership and ready to sign your name on the dotted line to pick up your very first sports car, you’re excited and can’t wait to get behind the wheel and hit that gas pedal. Hold up a minute. This is a pretty expensive car and you should at least know how to drive a sports car without crashing it before you hit the road. Here are a couple of things you should do before you end up getting real close and personal with a ditch.

Take a Defensive Driving Course

If you’re buying something that costs six figures and hits 0-60 faster than you can sneeze then you need to learn how to drive it. It is not like driving your Subaru and if you have never driven a stick shift before then it is also time to learn. If you live in a big city then chances are good that there is a track nearby where you can spend a couple of hundred bucks and learn how to drive a Lambo on a Saturday afternoon. It’s worth every penny. Here are some of the things they will teach you.

Get Used to Your Car First

A high end sports car is different, yes that it stating the obvious but the gas, brakes and all of it are touchier than what you’re used to. The car is also closer to the ground and the last thing you want to do is scrape the rims or the paint trying to parallel park. Acceleration is much faster than you are used to so find a fairly isolated place and accelerate and stop in a straight line. If you try it out in crappy weather or on a curve the first time it may not end well.

Don’t Listen to Your Friends

Everyone you know, friend or random stranger at the side of the road is going to encourage you to gun the engine and take off anytime they see you. Don’t do it. It is one thing to satisfy your friend but it is another to put other people’s property or lives in danger. Residential and downtown streets are not the place to show how fast your car can go, you can seriously injure or kill someone. Take your friends out on the highway or a track if you want to show them what your car can do.

You have a beautiful brand new ride and you should thoroughly enjoy for years to come. So take some time and learn how to drive your car first.

Buying a sports car is a hefty chunk of change and trying to find that balance between finding a car you love and finding a car that you can afford. You also want a car that you will spend the next couple of years driving and not fixing. Remember that expensive doesn’t mean it will hold value or that it is well built. We put together a list of the best sports cars for the money, to help you make an educated choice. You won’t find any Lamborghinis or Ferraris on the list, these are cars the average Joe can afford. These are in no particular order.

2018 Dodge Challenger

Inspired by the muscle cars of the 60’s and 70’s, this is not your tiny little sports car. You can easily fit 5 people into the car and there is loads of trunk space as well. Among our list this is one of the more expensive rides, with the base model coming in at close to 30K. Add in some extras and it can get pretty expensive to own. It does have a great rating for reliability so it won’t leave you stranded.

2018 Chevy Camaro

Another throwback to the early muscle cars, the Camaro has a half decent starting price at around 25K but after all is said and done it is right up there with the Challenger in price. This car has great handling and it’s a comfortable ride. It is not as big as the challenger and there isn’t a lot of room in the backseat. It is loaded with a ton of features, give it a test drive.

2018 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is the quintessential American sports car and for more than 50 years there have been new Mustangs on the road. 2018 gives us another great car. The Mustang comes with a powerful engine, great handling and a comfortable cabin. This car performs well in all tests and has a decent starting price. There are cars that will cost you less, but…they aren’t a Mustang.

2018 Fiat 124 Spider

The Spider has one of the lowest price tags and the cost to own is pretty cheap. It has great fuel economy but the reliability ratings could be a lot better. What sets this apart is the driving experience. This is a two seater sports car with a powerful engine and fantastic handling. It is has an upscale interior with plenty or bells and whistles. This is a car that was made to be driven fast!